maybe some aussies can help...I'm after a new battery

[BigKriss]

The old one's slowly dying. I took the battery out today and it's rated at 740CCA (cold cranking amps). It's dimensions are 35x17x17 cms. I don't want to goto the stealer. where can I find suitable battery? I checked out k-mart, they where selling a exide extreme at 620 CCA for $165. nrma are around $180 quoted (i don't know which battery they use though).

[Nick.Hay]

I went to the local battery store. They had one, same dimensions, spot-on fit... and it was in stock!! About $150-170 If I recall.

[BigKriss]

i'm going to a local battery place, it's $120 for a second hand one, $240 new. I think it's rated at around 850cca. I'll give u a pic when it's installed.

[pundit]

i'm going to a local battery place, it's $120 for a second hand one, $240 new. I think it's rated at around 850cca. I'll give u a pic when it's installed.
I don't think I would contemplate a s/h battery unless you were planning on selling your car. Standing in the pissing rain on cold winter's morning with a dead battery is bad enough only once every four or five years! ;)

[shogun]

From my own experience, as I just needed a new battery for my Highline, actually 2, 1 for under the rear seat 85 or 100Ah, and one for the trunk 25Ah.
BMW price here in Japan abt. 300 US $ for the big one, 100 for the small. The small one I bought in a bike shop for 30, fits perfect, the other one I bought from a supplier for industrial machinery supplies like forklifts etc. 100 $.
Fit perfect, enclosed system, drain pipe on the correct side.

[niall]

If you can spare the extra green, Grab an odyssey
they are awesome batteries,

google it and see for yourself

[mattyb]

$240 is too much. i paid 180 for the correct battery from the guys who have the workshop at caltex chatswood heading into the city. ill go now and get the model number. dont put 2nd hand batteries in .$180 was a new battery

[BigKriss]

I did get the battery secondhand for $120. Here's a pick. It read 840 on the multimeter, so we will see how it goes. It's dimensions are 36 x 16.5 x 17.8. It doesn't fit under the seat all the way, the rear seat doesn't go back on properly. Tommorrow I will have to bend the metal up a bit to accomodate the battery.

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/2139/newbattery7zy.jpg

[pundit]

I did get the battery secondhand for $120. Here's a pick. It read 840 on the multimeter, so we will see how it goes. It's dimensions are 36 x 16.5 x 17.8. It doesn't fit under the seat all the way, the rear seat doesn't go back on properly. Tommorrow I will have to bend the metal up a bit to accomodate the battery.

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/2139/newbattery7zy.jpg
Yikes! Brings back memories of VW Beetles....
Battery under rear seat, seat stuffed full of lovely flammable straw like wadding, seat spring wire sagging, large person sits on seat, spring wire shorts across battery terminals seat catches fire, car catches fire, walk home! :(

I've seen it happen!..Better off buying the correct battery Kriss! ;)

[shogun]

happened to me also on my first beetle. Used a bigger battery
covered with a wood board which slipped a bit :(
Whole rear seat was burned and I was lucky that someone helped out with a fire extinguisher.
Good old times, could remove the engine within 20 minutes. :D

[BigKriss]

i managed to fit the battery properly. here are some pics. I noticed that on the stock battery there is a pipe that vents the battery. There is no connection for the pipe on the new battery. I asked the blokes who I bought the battery off about exploding batteries, they said it does happen. Usually when the water levels are too low. is this right guys?

http://img285.imageshack.us/img285/9276/pict0058small3kk.jpg
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/3970/pict0060small5xr.jpg
http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/4930/pict0061small3bt.jpg

The rear seat is a bitch putting back on. I can't get the two final clips on.

[niall]

i wouldnt worry too much about exploding batteries

[bill g]

Exide Premium PDIN66 from Australian Battery Co Dandenong - maintenance free
600 CCA, 110 RC (reserve capacity), bit shorter and lighter than original BMW battery. Fits perfectly and has the vent fitting. $150 early last year.

Bill G